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Just when I thought the guy could actually be the 'real' Superman, Mike Reiss brings me right down to earth

Says despite his recent optimistic success in individual drills, he still fully expects Welker to be placed on TC PUP and remain there for the first 6 games of the season. This would coincide with many original predictions, and ruin the optimism that some of us have shared lately.

Just when I thought the guy could actually be the 'real' Superman, Mike Reiss brings me right down to earth

Says despite his recent optimistic success in individual drills, he still fully expects Welker to be placed on TC PUP and remain there for the first 6 games of the season. This would coincide with many original predictions, and ruin the optimism that some of us have shared lately.

Little to lose by PUP, it gives some WRs more time in the system. Rushing back could be catastrophic if he retears it. Should easily win the first 6 games anyway with or without him.

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I like your optimism about the first 6 games, although I'm hoping for a nice 4-2 start. I sincerely doubt this young team will automatically just gel together off the start, although I imagine they will continue to get stronger down the stretch once they iron out learning curves.

I agree w/ keeping him out too, although I was personally hoping for only the first 3-4 games. Was starting to try and remove PUP from my mind. Thought that maybe he could make enough progress for justifcation of keeping a roster spot--although maybe he still can (?)

In a way, this would be a good thing. It ensures Welker would be 100% ready to go by the time he comes back and also forces enhanced cohesion with the other WR's on this team (such as Tate, Hernandez, Holt, Price, and Gronk). If Welker goes on PUP to start the season and O'Brien was really serious about what he said he wanted to do with the offense, look for our new TE options to be featured early and often in the passing game to start the season.

It makes a lot of sense. There will be no recent film on the Pats' offense with Welker by the time the meat of the schedule comes up. Brady and Obrien will be forced to do what Welker's brilliance didn't allow last year--come up with an unpredictable attack with WR by committee.

They appear to be ambivalent about Mankins and there are no signs of Dante converting to more of a run blocking scheme. No RBs drafted or brought in.
Most fans don't want to see anymore pass-happy offense, but hey when it works no one complains.

on the PatsCast (epis. 7) they reminded us of the point that he's also recovering from shoulder surgery. PUP is the most likely outcome considering he's had not one but two significant surgeries this offseason.

In a way, this would be a good thing. It ensures Welker would be 100% ready to go by the time he comes back and also forces enhanced cohesion with the other WR's on this team (such as Tate, Hernandez, Holt, Price, and Gronk). If Welker goes on PUP to start the season and O'Brien was really serious about what he said he wanted to do with the offense, look for our new TE options to be featured early and often in the passing game to start the season.

Belichick was asked about Welker on Patriots All Access a few days ago, and here is his response: "Hopefully with no setbacks, he'll have an opportunity to get out there and compete at some point this year."

Considering the fact that BB usually has virtually nothing to say about injuries, I thought his answer was rather surprising. I would take the 'at some point this year' portion of his answer to mean that as of right now he is not expecting Welker to play week one. Obviously that is still a very long ways away and things could change, but as of this moment the most likely scenario is that Welker starts the season on PUP, in my opinion.

Belichick was asked about Welker on Patriots All Access a few days ago, and here is his response: "Hopefully with no setbacks, he'll have an opportunity to get out there and compete at some point this year."

Considering the fact that BB usually has virtually nothing to say about injuries, I thought his answer was rather surprising. I would take the 'at some point this year' portion of his answer to mean that as of right now he is not expecting Welker to play week one. Obviously that is still a very long ways away and things could change, but as of this moment the most likely scenario is that Welker starts the season on PUP, in my opinion.

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or he has the idea in mind that the Bengals and Jets are watching, hoping to glean something from his wording like us. Could it be misinformation? or am I just paranoid.

I like your optimism about the first 6 games, although I'm hoping for a nice 4-2 start. I sincerely doubt this young team will automatically just gel together off the start, although I imagine they will continue to get stronger down the stretch once they iron out learning curves.

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Bengals should be tough, but we should be able to beat them in NE.
Jets.. lol, come on, Rex will be crying by halftime, you heard it here first!
Bills...
Phins might be tough, but we'll get em.
Ravens after a bye week... no chance BB isn't prepared to redeem his playoff loss.
Chargers will be tough, specially in SD I see this as our first best chance to lose.
I'll predict a 5-1 start pre-Welker.

I fully expect him to be pupped to open TC if for no other reason than to keep your options open. I also wouldn't be surprised if he aces the conditioning test day 1. I'd guess based on his performance to date in OTA's that barring a setback he's ready to go long before week 7 and I cannot imagine Bill locking himself into a strategy so conservatibe that it would have the potential to backfire dramatically if there were other injuries or issues to deal with on the WR front. I still think he's activated before week 1 and available as needed over the first month or so of the season. A lot of this is up to the player. Those who appear overly concerned or tentative likely land where their performance dictates.

Remember, this is just Mike's opinion and in the past those have been about as bankable as anyone else's here (Cassel clinging by a thread and probably earmarked for cut down day while Guttierrez and KOC (each of whom is clinging by a thread to 3rd string gigs elsewhere) were at least his heir apparents...if not more).

It's not easy to read the tea leaves here, but if you asked BB about Brady last season he'd have said the same thing. He never predicts a week 1 start for a rehabbing player. Just says they are working hard, on schedule, will be back when they are ready. Knowledge is power, and that is something he never gives his opponents (or observers in general). He wants the first six teams we face having to account for all contingincies. Who or what they game plan for based on speculation his non answers fuel is just one more thing for him to potentially capitalize on.

It's also Mike's opinion that it's better for Seymour to sign his tender than hold firm for a long term deal on the eve of a potential lockout season. So he can be a UFA on the wrong side of 30 if there is one or tagged by crazy Al again if he's lucky and there isn't or in 2012 if there is - when he'd probably be lucky to be tagged... (and don't think Al wouldn't do it because he re-tagged Woodson after a lack luster, contentious franchise tagged season before trading him to GB when he flat out refused to report). Al gave up a first for Richard (to the team that made him look foolish on the Moss fire sale deal) on the heels of blowing a first on JaMarcus and signing Nnamdi to an untradeable deal that precludes the tag, and then needlessly paid him a premium on the exclusive tag, so if Al lives long enough Richard may become the scapegoat for all of Al's recent countless miscalculations...

About Mankins or run-blocking? Only things I've heard about re-tooling the O-line to focus more on run blocking appear to be just lip service.

Did they employ a heavy run-blocking scheme in '07 when Morris and Maroney both looked like all pros when they ran the ball? Last year didn't they average like 4.3 on the ground?

Both Gronk and Hernandez are primarily receiving TEs. With them, We're going to have so many passing options it's not even funny. Throw in TB, who is one of the greatest passers in history, but less mobile than Drew Bledsoe ever was, and I would think we're going to see a focus on pass protection.

About Mankins or run-blocking? Only things I've heard about re-tooling the O-line to focus more on run blocking appear to be just lip service.

Did they employ a heavy run-blocking scheme in '07 when Morris and Maroney both looked like all pros when they ran the ball? Last year didn't they average like 4.3 on the ground?

Both Gronk and Hernandez are primarily receiving TEs. With them, We're going to have so many passing options it's not even funny. Throw in TB, who is now is one of the greatest passers in history, but less mobile than Drew Bledsoe ever was, and I would think we're going to see a focus on pass protection.

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Apparently, Dante has been on the O-Line and has specifically been working with them about improving their run blocking. I'd find the article, but I'm at work right now. It was in a recent mini-camp report.

Remember, this is just Mike's opinion and in the past those have been about as bankable as anyone else's here (Cassel clinging by a thread and probably earmarked for cut down day while Guttierrez and KOC (each of whom is clinging by a thread to 3rd string gigs elsewhere) were at least his heir apparents...if not more).

I think PUP is still a very realistic posibility but I also think that giving his recent public display of his football work there is no reason not to think that week one is possible and even likely. I would go as far as to say that his working out in front of the media could even mean that he doesn't get pupped for TC (though much less likely).

If I were to take my best guess at the timeline I would think he gets pupped heading into to TC and comes off the PUP around the first preseason game so he can start practicing with the team and that he likely doesn't play in the preseason though maybe game three. Then starts his first game somewhere between weeks 1-4 (obviously wouldnt play preseason if he wasnt ready for week one).